Drink-drive shame of pensioners caught well over the limit

Herald Reporter

Two boozy pensioners caught driving while drunk have been banned – and warned they are lucky not to be going to jail.

In separate incidents, police breathalysed Robert Corner and Jennifer Salt – and the shock results showed he was over and she was just under six times the legal limit to be behind the wheel.

The shamed OAPs appeared at Falkirk Sheriff Court on June 30 for sentence following background reports being prepared by social workers.

Corner, a 68-year-old from 18 Amulree Place, Bo’ness, was caught on Jamieson Avenue in his home town on December 16 last year after police were tipped off by a member of the public.

Tests showed he had 135 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath.

The legal limit is 22 in 100.

Salt (67), from 6 Westerton Road, Grangemouth, was stopped on Loanhead Avenue, Grangemouth, on May 10 this year. After she was arrested and tested, her reading showed 127 in 100.

Defence lawyer Lynn Swan represented them both in court.

She urged that despite the “high reading” Corner be spared jail and although he was not fit enough to carry out unpaid work as part of any community-based sentence his liberty could be restricted.

Sheriff Derek Livingston said: “He was over six times the limit, but told social workers that did not impact on his ability to drive. There is an alcohol issue here. He’s obviously been drinking too much and did not want to admit it.”

He banned Corner, who admitted previous road traffic offences, for three years and placed him on a supervised community payback order for the same period with the added condition he attend alcohol counselling.

He will also re-sit his driving test, although the sheriff admitted: “I have concerns about your health and whether you should be driving at all.”

Sheriff Livingston was told Salt had three previous convictions for drink-driving dating back 12 years.

He disqualified her for four years and imposed a community payback order to complete 150 hours’ unpaid work in six months. Salt will also attend alcohol counselling and re-sit her test when the ban is up.

He reminded her: “Be clear, this is a direct alternative to custody.”

Ms Swan said Salt has had difficulties with alcohol since 2004 due to an abusive relationship with a former partner, but is already seeking professional help.